Chapter 405: Cooperation 2
Rumble!
The massive mecha began to slowly start up. In reality, it wasn't truly slow; it was just that in the eyes of these powerful shinobi, its speed left much to be desired.
The wheels of the mecha began to shift, transforming into a pair of colossal legs as the giant machine stood upright.
"Not bad. Judging by the commotion, its defensive and offensive capabilities should both be superior to his previous work," Tobitake Tonbo remarked, sensing the mecha's movements. "It seems Kankuro has made real progress over the years. I suppose he might just become a three-star puppet ninja in the future."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Right then, powerful air currents erupted from the mecha's legs and back, lifting the entire machine into the air. However, it started off quite wobbly, looking as if it might plummet from the sky at any moment. Gaara had already gathered his sand, prepared to catch it, but Kankuro ultimately managed to stabilize the machine.
Kankuro's voice echoed from inside: "Hahaha! Cool, right? My puppet can fly too, and it doesn't even consume that much chakra!"
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The chakra consumption might have been low, but the noise it generated was definitely a public nuisance—at least to Tonbo and the others listening below.
Gaara noted, "This is its first operational run, so there are likely still many issues."
Watching Kankuro excitedly pilot the mecha out toward the desert beyond the village, Gaara added, "Let's go up and take a look as well."
Tobitake Tonbo took off directly into the air without deploying any visible ninjutsu, as if flight were second nature to him. Seeing this, Gaara was reminded of Naruto's method of flight. Has he acquired that kind of power too?
He guessed correctly. Tonbo had already extracted data from Kaguya's body revealing that all Otsutsuki possess the innate ability to fly. Utilizing this information, he had developed a method for free flight. In truth, it was merely a specific application of Yin Release, so the difficulty wasn't exceptionally high.
Whoosh!
Gaara quickly caught up, and it didn't take long for them to overtake the machine.
Kankuro was still piloting somewhat precariously. However, proving his merit as a genius puppeteer, he quickly found his bearings and adjusted the controls. The mecha accelerated and stabilized.
Tonbo flew alongside the machine. Looking at its design, he had to admit that the phrase "a man's romance" wasn't just talk. Any man laying eyes on this would feel their blood pump; giant mechas truly were inherently cool.
However, its aesthetic slightly resembled Kabutack from his previous life, which made him feel a bit awkward. Although he had grown accustomed to his own moniker, Captain Tonbo, adding a Kabutack lookalike triggered his old sense of secondhand embarrassment—especially now that he had reached his current age.
"Hahaha! Pretty slick, right, Captain Tonbo?" Sensing Tonbo's presence, Kankuro's voice boomed from the cockpit.
"It's cool, alright, but watch your front!" Tonbo warned.
Right ahead lay a massive sand dune. The mecha plowed straight into it, scattering the dune into a cloud of swirling yellow sand. Thud! The giant machine lost its balance and tumbled onto the desert floor.
"Dammit!" Kankuro muttered, forcing the mecha back onto its feet. It was clear he was growing much more proficient.
Bang! Bang!
As if to vent his frustration, ports opened on the mecha's hands, firing projectiles forward and triggering violent explosions. They were clearly Chakra Cannons, a type of scientific chakra tool.
Kankuro proceeded to run several more tests. By the end of it, Tonbo reached a definitive conclusion:
Mecha Assessment:
Strengths: High offensive power, incredible defensive capabilities. The specialized paint coating can block sensory perception and offers formidable resistance against ninjutsu.Weaknesses: Poor mobility, completely lacks any ability to restrict an enemy's movement.
If Tonbo had to fight it, he could easily find a countermeasure, even back when he was just a Chunin. However, winning wouldn't be guaranteed. His Chunin-era self would have found that special paint quite a handful—or rather, might not have been able to crack it at all. Though Kankuro was often criticized by many, he was still undeniably an elite Jonin with plenty of combat experience.
Before long, the mecha suddenly shut down and slumped over. Kankuro climbed out, looking slightly embarrassed in front of Gaara and Tonbo. "The mecha is still a bit weak right now and hasn't been perfected, but it will definitely qualify me as a one-star puppet ninja." Kankuro was well aware of his creation's strengths and weaknesses; against high-level shinobi, it really wasn't enough yet.
"Keep it up, a one-star ranking is definitely within reach," Tonbo encouraged. "By the way, do you have any intention of exporting that specialized paint? I feel like Konoha really needs something like that; it would be incredibly useful for us."
Tonbo had taken a liking to the paint. It could be applied to various Konoha facilities and utilized in research laboratories to construct highly resistant materials.
"...Dammit," Kankuro muttered, instantly realizing that the other man had zero interest in his actual mecha puppet. He felt a prickle of annoyance. If I had known, I wouldn't have shown it off so early when it still has so many flaws.
Gaara nodded, indicating he would consider the proposal. Meanwhile, a dejected Kankuro called for a crew to help haul the puppet mecha back. It was simply too embarrassing.
Having finished his tour of Sunagakure and seen all there was to see, Tobitake Tonbo boarded an airship bound for Kumogakure.
"I hope Kumogakure's Taijutsu doesn't disappoint me."
Over the span of about a dozen days, a thoroughly relaxed Tonbo completed his tour of the remaining Great Shinobi Villages, successfully establishing cooperative agreements with all of them.
To the other hidden villages, the terms Tonbo offered were incredibly enticing. His personal capabilities, combined with his pitch for a future Taijutsu Training System, were simply too attractive to ignore—particularly for Kumogakure and Iwagakure.
For Kumogakure: Taijutsu was their bread and butter. If there was a way to grow even stronger, they were absolutely on board. They also held immense faith in Tonbo's capabilities; after all, they had seen—and some had even experienced—his Genjutsu Training System. It was profoundly useful for shinobi. Since they couldn't exactly raid Konoha to steal it, they could only watch enviously as Konoha's Ninja Academy used it to rapidly accelerate their students' combat experience. Now, this upcoming Taijutsu Training System sounded like an asset every bit as revolutionary. Consequently, they agreed without hesitation. Kumogakure went so far as to offer access to the Falls of Truth on Genbu (Turtle Island), allowing trainees in the system to use it at designated times—a gesture demonstrating incredible sincerity.For Iwagakure: Their Taijutsu had always been mediocre. Seeing an opportunity to shore up their weakness, they were more than willing to cooperate. After all, the Fourth Shinobi World War had clearly demonstrated the vital importance of close-quarters combat.
With Tonbo handling the preparations, all they had to do was wait for the system to launch and then reap the benefits. In exchange, they merely needed to hand over their collective Taijutsu insights and experience—along with any secret formulas for medicinal research if possible. It was practically like being spoon-fed.
The other villages couldn't fathom why Konoha would do something so seemingly thankless, bearing all the burdens while letting others reap the rewards. It felt like a total windfall, a literal pie falling from the sky. As for their Taijutsu secrets? Barring a few forbidden techniques, most close-combat styles were fundamentally similar—just standard methods used by shinobi to wage war.
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